Masai Mara National park/ Game Reserve, Wildlife Safaris in Kenya
Masai Mara National Reserve is one of the most popular tourism destinations in Kenya- Africa. The reserve is located in the Great Rift Valley in primarily open grassland.
Wildlife tends to be most concentrated on the reserve’s western escarpment.
The Masai Mara is regarded as the jewel of Kenya’s wildlife viewing areas. The annual wildebeest’s migration alone involves over 1.5 million animals arriving in July and departing in November.
There have been some 95 species of mammals, amphibians and reptiles and over 400 birds species recorded on the reserve.
Nowhere in Africa is wildlife more abundant, and it is for this reason a visitor hardly misses to see the big five (buffalo, elephant, leopard, lion, and rhino).
Mara Triangle
The Mara is known as one of the finest wildlife destinations in the World. There is an excellent chance of seeing the Big Five
Climatic conditions – Altitude 5,300 feet (1,600 metres). Rainy season from November through May, with peak rainfall in December-January and April-May. Dry season from June-November. Often sunny mornings with cloud build-up in the afternoons – during the rains this develops into thunderstorms in the afternoon and evening. Max temperatures up to 30°C and min temperatures around 20°C.
3 Days Flying Safari to Bwindi Forest
4 Days Chimpanzees and Gorilla Tour
4 Days Gorillas and Golden Monkey Tracking Tour
5 Days Gorillas and Wildlife Tour
5 Days Wildlife and Gorilla Flying Tour
6 Days Chimps, Gorillas and Golden Monkeys
6 Days Gorillas and Wildlife Tours
6 Days Mt. Elgon and Sipi Falls Tour
7 Days Chimpanzees and Gorilla Tour
7 Days Mt. Rwenzori Hiking Tour
Wildlife – The Mara is known as one of the finest wildlife destinations in the World. There is an excellent chance of seeing the Big 5, cheetah, serval, hyena, bat-eared foxes, black-backed and side-striped jackals, hippo, crocodile, baboons, warthog, topi, eland, Thompson’s gazelle, Grant’s gazelle, impala, waterbuck, oribi, reed-buck, zebra.
During the migration (July to November) huge numbers of wildebeest move in.
Access – The Mara Triangle is serviced by two all-weather airstrips– Mara Serena and Kichwa Tembo. The main road access into the Triangle is through Narok and Sekenani Gate.
Accommodation – Mara Serena (150 beds that have luxury bedding and cozy pillows) and Little Governors’ Camp (36 beds luxury bedding and cozy pillows) are the only two lodges situated in the Triangle. Kichwa Tembo, Mpata Club, Olonana, Mara Siria and Kilima Camp are situated on the periphery but use the Triangle.
Best time to visit – Peak season is between July and October, during the migration. Early November and February can also offer excellent game viewing.
Activities to do in Masai Mara National Park
Game viewing, camping, night game drives, visits to Masai cultural villages, ballooning, bush dinner, lunch and breakfast. As wedding destination in the country, it makes for a spot for a destination wedding photographer to engage different scenes with clients.
Balloon Safaris in Masai Mara
Experience Balloon Safaris and rides as fly above the plains watching wildlife as well as the Rivers of the Masai Mara, Forests. While on your Balloon safaris you view the Mara with its trees, shadows from clouds and scrubland hence the beautiful scenery. The Balloon Flight takes about an hour in air.
Game Drives
Masai Mara National Park offers remarkable Game Drives on which you view various wildlife animals wander around their beautiful natural habitat. The Game Drives take place 4×4 vehicles/cars and the wildlife animals you watch include ; lions, elephants, cape buffalo, and rhinoceros, as well as giraffes, hippos, hyenas, Nile crocodiles, wildebeest, zebra, gazelles, antelopes.
Seeing the Wildebeest Migration
Masai Mara National Park is prominently known for the Great Wildebeest Migration where more than a million hoofed wildlife animals i.e wildebeest, zebra, and gazelle migrate through the Mara and Serengeti National Park Ecosystem. The Great Wildebeest migration takes places from July and October because the wildebeest give birth and life starts all around the Mara.
Cultural Tours
Masai Mara National Park is popularly known for the local Masai who have inhabited areas around the Mara for a few hundred years with unique Customs and Cultures. These rear cattle with big herds staying in the Manyatta Camps hence a very exciting group to explore while on safari tour in Masai Mara.
